Exclusive October PPM Analysis: San Francisco, Dallas, Houston

October 30, 2012 at 8:00 AM (PT)

ALL ACCESS presents SEPTEMBER PPM market highlights, compiled by the Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. and powered by XTRENDS, radio's #1 PPM and diary analysis tool. All numbers reflect subscriber only data.

SAN FRANCISCO: The Playoff Push

In case you were wondering whether San Franciscans were passionate about their baseball team, consider this: Last year at this time the GIANTS were playing out the string and CUMULUS Sports KNBR-A was hanging out in a tie for #9 with a 3.5 share. Now, with World Series fever in the air, the station is #1 for the third straight book (5.7-6.1) and hit it out of the park with its best number in over a year. Talk radio was doing its share of hitting line drives into the gap as CBS RADIO News KCBS-A (5.0-5.2) and KQED INC N/T KQED (5.2-5.2) were now tied for the wild card (at #2). Bowing to the MLB rules changes this year, there was also a tie for the second wild card spot at #4. ENTERCOM AC KOIT was very consistent throughout 2012 (4.6-4.4) while CBS RADIO Top 40/M KMVQ (NOW) was living in the moment by returning to the top 5 after a brief departure (4.3-4.4)

CCM+E Top 40/R KYLD (WILD) had also been a marvel of consistency and rode the flat wave (4.0-4.0) to move up to a tie at #6 with cluster sister CCM+E Hot AC KIOI (STAR) (4.2-4.0). Way back in the steamy month of JULY, CCM+E Top 40/R KMEL was ruling the roost at #1 but a three-book slide (4.7-3.9) took the station out of the top 5 and planted it firmly at #8. Last year at this time, UNIVISION Regional Mexican KSOL (ESTEREO SOL) was in a tie at #15 but was now in sole possession of #9 (3.4-3.6). The top 10 added a member this month as CCM+E Rhythmic AC KISQ (KISS) (3.4-3.3) and CCM+E Classic Hits KOSF (3.3-3.3) arm wrestled each other for a share of #10.

For the second straight book, KQED took the top spot 25-54 but KNBR-A was warming up in the bullpen as it moved up a slot to #2. That displaced KIOI, which fell a notch to #4. KSOL broke a three-way tie with KOIT and KYLD for #5 from last book and was now in "sol" possession of #4 (we will now officially send that joke to the showers). KMVQ dropped a slot to take ownership of #5. Both KOIT and KYLD fell out of that aforementioned tie at #5 and are now outside the top 5 looking in. KMEL was on a three-book slide that had taken the station from #1 to #10.

At least KMEL did hold on to its #1 position 18-34, even with the station’s worst in-demo performance of 2012. Still, it had a comfortable lead over #2 KYLD. KMVQ had a bounce-back book to come in at #3, while KSOL held firm at #4. This one was kind of stunning. In FEBRUARY, KNBR was in a tie for #27 in this demo. Over the last three months, the station has moved from a tie for #14 to #5.

There was a new #1 18-49 and that is ... KMVQ. KYLD held on to #2 while KMEL ended a seven-book run at #1 and tumbled to #3. This was the station’s lowest in-demo number of 2012. KSOL and KQED switched places and came in at #4 and #5, respectively.

DALLAS-FT. WORTH: The Race Tightens Again

Last survey, CCM+E Top 40/M KHKS (KISS-FM) saw its hold on #1 shrink to the lowest it had been in 2012. Well, the shrinkage continued as the station posted a new lowest number of 2012 (6.9-6.6) and now leads #2 SALEM Christian Contemporary KLTY (6.2-6.2) by less than half-share. CUMULUS Country KPLX (THE WOLF) had seen its ratings bounce like a yo-yo over the last five surveys. This time it was walking the, uh, dog (5.4-4.9). The station managed to hold on to #3, but this time it had to share the space with CCM+E Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR) as KZPS posted its best book in over a year (4.3-4.9). Jumping back into the top 5 was CBS RADIO Classic Hits KLUV (3.9-4.2)

For the last several months, CUMULUS Country KSCS had been inching its way up the charts (3.9-4.0) and was tied at #6 with CCM+E Hot AC KDMX (NOW), which was not able to duplicate its best book of the year (4.4-4.0). The leap-of-the-week might need to be tested for PEDs as CBS RADIO AC KVIL (LITE-FM) rebounded from a dismal SEPTEMBER to rocket from #18 to #8 (2.4-3.8). Another mover and shaker was CUMULUS Talk WBAP-A. The station posted its best number in over a year (2.9-3.4) and moved from #12 into a tie at #9 with SERVICE Urban KKDA (K104) (3.6-3.4). Falling out of the top 10 for the first time in over a year was UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (LA QUE BUENA) (4.0-3.1).

While the race may be tightening in 6+, the song remained the same for 25-54. KHKS continued to reign as a strong #1 -- as it had all year -- over #2 KLTY. KPLX managed to claw its way up to #3 this survey, while KDMX slipped from #3 into a tie for #4 with KZPS. All five stations have set up a pretty effective ratings barrier, preventing the rest of the market from getting too close to the top 5.

Even though KHKS matched its lowest 18-34 number of 2012, it maintained a sizeable lead over #2 KPLX. KKDA edged up a notch to #3 just ahead of two top-five party crashers. KSCS posted its best number in over a year and rode that wave from #7 up to #4. RADIO ONE Top 40/Rhythmic KBFB (THE BEAT) paid a return visit to #5 – leaping up from #8. If two are in, then two must be out. That would be KDMX and KLTY, which fell from a tie at #4 to #6 and #7, respectively.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: KHKS was dominating a demo. This time it was 18-49 and even though KISS fell to its lowest number of the year, it maintained a substantial lead over #2 KPLX, which matched its best number of 2012. Say hello to KZPS. LONE STAR was shining bright and stormed into the #3 slot all the way from #7. KLTY fell from a tie at #2 into a tie at #4 with KDMX. From the dizzying heights of a tie at #2, KLNO plummeted to #8 by posting its lowest number in over a year.

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Three For Two

For the sixth book in a row, RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) was HOUSTON’s #1 station (7.4-7.6). Now, it opened up a commanding lead on not one, not two, but three stations, which were locked in a mortal thumb wrestling challenge for #2. RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) posted its lowest number since JANUARY (7.0-6.1) while KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Christian Contemporary KSBJ -- one of the few stations in town without a nickname -- scored its best number since APRIL (5.9-6.1). Our third #2 player was UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO), which decided now was a good time to get its best book in over a year (5.9-6.1). Skipping over the numbers 3 and 4, we find CCM+E AC KODA (SUNNY) with its lowest rating of 2012, which allowed the station to set on #5 (6.2-5.8).

In AUGUST, CCM+E Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) posted its best book of 2012. Since then it hasexperienced the annoying slow drip of ratings erosion to remain at #6 (4.8-4.6). Even on a two-book slide, COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) held on to #7 (4.6-4.3). Charging into the #8 position with its best book of 2012 (3.6-4.1) was COX RADIO Classic Hits KGLK (HOUSTON’S EAGLE). Earning leap-of-the-week honors was LIBERMAN Regional Mexican KQQK (EL NORTE). Not only did the station post its best book in over a year, it went from a tie at #17 all the way to a tie at #9 (2.8-3.7). Equally impressive was the performance of CCM+E N/T KTRH-A, which made the bold dash from #16 to a tie at #11 (2.9-3.4) with cluster-mate CCM+E Classic Rock KKRW (THE ARROW) (3.6-3.4)

For the seventh book in a row, KLTN owned the #1 spot 25-54 and the station did it with a bit of flourish by posting its best number in over a year. KBXX also posted its best performance in over a year but had to settle for remaining at #2. Two stations, each on a two-book slide, found themselves tied at #3 – KMJQ and KTBZ. Meanwhile, KODA, on a three-book slide, was still safely positioned at #5.

KBXX was just simply crushing the market 18-34. This time the station maintained its #1 title by posting a huge number -- the likes of which it had not seen in over a year. KLTN, on the other hand, was on a nice two-book surge and held on to #2. KTBZ kept humming along at #3 while KKBQ made a bold move and jumped from #7 to #4. Despite a two-book slide, CBS RADIO Top 40/M KKHH (HOT) held on to the #5 position. Dropping out of the top 5 was cluster-mate CBS RADIO Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA).

It should come as no surprise that THE BOX dominated 18-49, as well. Once again the station posted its best book in over a year to maintain its stranglehold on #1. Not to be outdone, KLTN also posted its best number in over a year and has a firm grip on #2. KTBZ has the exact same rating as a year ago and is in the exact same position ... #3. Over the last three months, KSBJ has moved from #10 to a tie at #5 to its current position at #4. KKBQ made a return appearance to the top 5 at #5. Two stations dropped out of the top 5 – KODA, which had its lowest rating in over a year, and KMJQ